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Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales The Miller Animal Imagery –Ram –Sow –Fox The Miller is strong like an animal The Miller has animal passions

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Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales The Miller “And, at its very tip, his nose displayed A wart on which there stood a tuft of hair Red as the bristles in an old sow’s ear. His nostrils were as black as they were wide.” (554-557) –Not an attractive man

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Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales The Miller “His was a master-hand at stealing grain. He felt it with his thumb and thus he knew Its quality and took three times his due” (564-566) –Cheats his customers Puts thumb on the scale when weighing grain

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Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales The Miller Purpose of the Diction –paints the Miller in a negative light –he is dishonest

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Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales The Miller Our Reaction to the Miller –We do not like him –We do not trust him –We are intimidated by his size

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Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales The Manciple Characterization –Diction “Now isn’t it a marvel of God’s grace That an illiterate fellow can outpace The wisdom of a heap of learned men?” (576-579)

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Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales The Manciple Satire –Miracle usually references an act of God, but in this case no divine intervention is necessary to explain his behavior –Illiterate fellow mocks the intelligence of the Manciple

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Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales The Manciple “And yet this Manciple could wipe their eye.” (590) –“wipe their eye” A British expression for getting the better of someone

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Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales The Manciple Purpose of Diction –Demonstrates that the Manciple is not smart

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Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales The Manciple Our Reaction to the Manciple –Not a severe reaction –We laugh at him –Not much of an opinion –Relatively forgettable character

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Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales The Reeve “No auditor could gain a point on him. And he could judge by watching drought and rain The yield he might expect for seed and grain. His master’s sheep, his animals and hens, Pigs, horses, dairies, stores and cattle-pens Were wholly trusted to his government. And he was under contract to present The accounts, right from his master’s earliest years. No one had ever caught him in arrears. No bailiff, serf or herdsman dared to kick, He knew their dodges, knew their every trick; Feared like the plague he was, by those beneath.” (588-609)

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Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales The Reeve Frugal Manages the estate very well No one dares to cheat him He is skimming a profit for himself –Arrears Debts that are unpaid or overdue –Never caught

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Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales The Reeve “A better hand at bargains than his lord, He had grown rich and had a store of treasure Well tucked away, yet out it came to pleasure His lord with subtle loans or gifts of goods, To earn his thanks and even coats and hoods.” (612-616) –The Reeve has grown rich through sharp dealing and theft

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Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales The Reeve “He rode the hindmost of our cavalcade.” (626) –The Reeve rides his horse behind everyone on their journey to Canterbury Why? –He can keep a sharp eye on everyone else to make sure they don’t cheat –No one can watch him, so he can cheat

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Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales The Reeve Purpose of the Diction –Presents the Reeve as an intimidating person –Presents the Reeve as an immoral and unethical person

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Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales The Reeve Our Reaction to the Reeve –We do not like him –We do not trust him –We might be intimidated by him